An outbreak of herpes is threatening to devastate Oyster stocks off the coast
of Kent, experts have warned.

Samples taken from the Pacific oyster species harvested off the coast of Whitstable have tested positive for type one oyster herpes, according to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

It is the first time the incurable virus has been detected in stocks in Britain

The movement of oysters off The Swale, Thames and north Kent coasts has been banned to prevent the spread of the outbreak.

Inspectors from the Fish Health Inspectorate were called in to investigate after the company Seasalter Shellfish noticed a high mortality rate among its Pacific oyster stocks.

John Bayes, the company's managing director, said he feared a ''total wipeout'' of the shellfish.

He added: ''The initial realisation was a massive blow and now having to deal with it is a blow. We've had to cease all oyster activity when we've just invested a large amount of money increasing that side of the business.

''We were just getting to be in a position where we could be supplying millions of oysters all over the world.''

The Cefas spokeswoman said the virus, which has no cure, has been responsible for huge numbers of deaths of oysters in France, Jersey and Ireland, but has no implications for human health.

She said: ''It could be devastating for oyster production in other areas, for instance the South coast, so it's really important that we contain the disease.

''We're not worried about people eating them and getting sick, we just don't want it to spread.''

The virus does not pose a risk to native species of oysters, but around 1,100 tonnes of Pacific oysters are produced in Britain every year.

Oyster stocks off Kent, Essex and Cornwall are also under threat from a tiny snail which bores through their shell and eats their flesh, it emerged in January.

French oysters were last year sticken a mysterious plague which killed millions of the prized shellfish.

Sewage-infested oysters were blamed as the main cause of the food poisoning outbreak which struck down 500 diners at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck restaurant last year.